Last Thursday, Teignmouth seniors were the visitors to Sidmouth seniors for a match played in bright sunshine, writes Charles Oram.

The course at Teignmouth was designed by Dr Alister Mackenzie, who was also the architect of Augusta National (home of the US Masters Championship). Dr Mackenzie was originally a GP and used to prescribe rounds of golf to his patients!

As usual, each side fielded six pairs of players in a four ball format, and for a time fortunes ebbed and flowed. Nigel Sharp and Peter Emery led off for the home side.

Flushed with his success in the recent Yellow Ball competition, Sharp was walking on air when the Sidmouth pair went three up after 12 holes, but gravity soon reasserted itself!

Teignmouth’s Don French spoiled the Sidmouth party by carding pars on all the remaining holes, to take the match for Teignmouth two-and-one.

Next up for Sidmouth, Colston Herbert and Ray Gunston were again in danger of letting victory slip from their grasp. Having established a three-hole lead at the turn, they were relieved to secure a win by one, on the last hole.

The match involving Sidmouth’s John Townsend and Bob Winstone took a different turn, since they were four down after six holes and must have been feeling as sick as a parrot (to borrow a soccer expression).

But this was another game of two halves, and the Sidmouth pair were doubtless over the moon when they won by two.

Enough drama for one afternoon! Chris Ashley and Dieter Ritz cruised serenely to a five-and-four victory - and Colin Paddon and Glyn Hewitt were always in control of their match, which they won three-and-two, with Paddon collecting the wine for nearest the pin on the 18th in two.

The victory of Teignmouth’s final pairing over Les Pratt and Mike Fisher by four-and-two helped make the away side’s tally more respectable.

Howeverf. Sidmouth had prevailed by four matches to two on a pleasant, sunny afternoon. Just what the doctor ordered!